What inspired Paul RYKEN to travel full-time and how has it shaped his experiences?

What inspired me to travel full-time was a combination of values and numbers. As we adopted minimalism, we started questioning whether what we owned and did truly added value. Realising that a big house, career ladder, and “stuff” weren’t part of our core values opened the door to a different life.

During earlier travels, we saw how widely the cost of living varies around the world. That sparked the question: could it actually be cheaper – and more meaningful – to live on the road than in Sydney? Letting go of superfluous possessions and expenses made that possible and led to creating Minimalist Journeys and our motto of experiencing more by living with less.

It has shaped our experiences by allowing us to:

1. Live closer to our values and in sync with nature rather than a commute and office routine
2. Build a business together that feels purposeful, not just “a job”
3. Focus more on sustainability and intentional choices, from the gear we carry to how we travel

How close are you right now to living in line with your own values when it comes to travel and lifestyle?